Process for preparing diorganoantimony compounds r2sboocr&#39; and novel products so prepared



United States Patent 3,367,954 PRUCESS FOR PREPARING DIORGANOANTI- MONY COMPQUNDS R SbOOCR AND NOVEL PRODUCTS S0 PREPARED John R. Leebriclr, Old Lyme, Conn., and Nathaniel L. Remcs, Livingston, N.J., assignors to M & T Chemicals inc New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 241,023, Nov. 29, 1962. This application Apr. 24, 1964, Ser. No. 362,484

25 Claims. (Cl. 260-414) ABSTRACT OF THE DESCLOSURE In accordance with certain of its aspects, the process of this invention for preparing a diorganoantimony compound of the formula R SbOOCR wherein R is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, aryl, and alkenyl, and R is hydrocarbon, comprises mixing together as reactants R SbX wherein X is halogen having an atomic weight greater than 19; and M(OOCR) wherein M is a cation selected from the group consisting of ammonium, alkali metals and alkaline earth metals, and a is the valence of M; in the presence of an inert solvent for at least one of said reactants, thereby forming product R SbOOCR; and recovering said product.

This application is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 241,023 filed Nov. 29, 1962 and now abandoned.

This invention relates to a novel process for preparing organoantimony compounds and to novel organoanti mony compounds prepared thereby.

Organoantimony compounds of the formula R SbOOCR wherein R is a hydrocarbon group and OOCR is an anionic carboxylate group are useful as stabilizers, bactericides, germicides, etc. Especially desirable compounds are those wherein R is selected from the group consisting of alkyl containing at least 3 carbon atoms, aryl and alkenyl. These novel compounds have not heretofore been described and there has not been reported in the prior art any process for their preparation.

It is an object of this invention to provide a novel process characterized by its ability to produce high yields of high purity diorganoantimony carboxylate compounds. It is a further object to provide novel organoantimony compounds. Other objects will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following disclosure.

In accordance with certain of its aspects, the process of this invention for preparing a diorganoantimony compound of the formula R SbOOCR wherein R is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, aryl, and alkenyl, and R is hydrocarbon, comprises mixing together as reactants R SbX wherein X is halogen having an atomic weight greater than 19; and M(OOCR') wherein M is a cation selected from the group consisting of ammonium, alkali metals and alkaline earth metals, and a is the valence of M; in the presence of an inert solvent for at least one of said reactants, thereby forming product R SbOOCR; and recovering said product.

Typically, both R and R may be selected from the group consisting of alkyl, aryl, and alkenyl.

In accordance With this invention, R SbOOCR' may be prepared by reacting together R SbX and M(OOCR'),; wherein R and R are selected from the group consisting of alkyl, aryl, and alkenyl. Typical alkyls may include methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, secbutyl, tert-butyl, amyl, hexyl, octyl, decyl, dodecyl, octadecyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, etc. Typical aryls may inice clude phenyl, naphthyl, phenanthryl, etc. Typical alkenyls may include vinyl, allyl, l-propenyl, l-butenyl, 2- butenyl, 3-butenyl, etc. The radicals R and R may be inertly substituted alkyl, aryl, or alkenyl radicals, i.e., may bear a substituent which does not react with other components of the process or interfere with the reaction. Typical inert substit-uents may include halogen, nitro, ether, aryl, alkyl, etc. Typical inertly substituted R and R radicals may include chlorophenyl, nitrophenyl, benzyl, tolyl, ethylphenyl, phenylethyl, chlorobutyl, 2-ethylhexyl, ethoxyethyl, methylcyclohexyl, 4-chloro-3-butenyl, etc. R and R may be the same or different. Preferably, R may be aryl and most preferably it may be phenyl. Preferably R may be selected from the group consisting of alkyl containing at least three carbon atoms, aryl, and alkenyl.

In the reactant R SbX, X may be halogen having an atomic weight greater than 19, e.g., chlorine, bromine and iodine. Most preferably, X may be chlorine.

Typical R SbX reactants which may be employed in the practice of this invention include diphenylantimony chloride, dibenzylantimony bromide, diallylantimony iodide, ditolylantimony chloride, dibenzylantimony chloride, dichlorophenylantimony bromide, dicyclohexylantimony chloride, dioctylantimony iodide, etc. Preferably R may be aryl, most preferably phenyl, and X may be chlorine, and the reactant R SbX may be diphenylantimony chloride.

These compounds may be readily available, or they may readily be prepared. For example, three moles of Grignard reagent RMgCl, say phenylmagnesium chloride, may be reacted with one mole of SbCl to give R Sb, say triphenylantimony. Two moles of R sh may then be reacted with one mole of SbCl to give R SbCl, say diphenylantimony chloride.

R SbX may be reacted with M(OOCR) wherein R is independently selected from the same group as R; M is a cation selected from the group consisting of ammonium, alkali metals and alkaline earth metals; and a is the valence of M. M may be ammonium, sodium, potassium, lithium, calcium, magnesium, strontium, etc. Preferably M may be ammonium, sodium or potassium.

In the compound M(OOCR),,, R may be selected from the group consisting of alkyl, aryl and alkenyl and a may be the valence of M. Typical illustrative M(OOCR) reactants may include:

magnesium laurate calcium stearate potassium oleate ammonium benzoate magnesium p-toluate sodium-ethylbenzoate calcium u-naphthoate ammonium phenylacetate sodium phenoxyacetate potassium linoleate calcium cyclohexanoate magnesium tetrachlorobenzoate sodium pelargonate ammonium acetate sodium acetate potassium acetate calcium acetate magnesium acetate ammonium propionate sodium butyrate V potassium u-methylpropionate calcium Z-ethylhexanoate magnesium valerate sodium caproate ammonium a-methylvalerate potassium caprylate 3 The reaction which occurs in the process of this invention may be represented as A specific, preferred embodiment of the process may be Preferably, RgSbX and M(OOCR') may be reacted by mixing them together in the presence of an inert solvent for at least one of said reactants. An inert solvent one which does not react with either of the reactants under the reaction conditions or otherwise interfere with the preparation. Preferably, the inert solvent may have a boiling point of about 60150 C. at atmospheric pressure. The inert solvent may typically be employed in the amount of about ISO-2,500 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of total reactants, and preferably 3001500, say 1000 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of total reactants.

Where the reactant M(OOCR) is water-soluble, e.g. when M is ammonium, sodium or potassium and R is lower alkyl or aryl, the inert solvent may preferably be water. When water is employed, product R SbOOCR' may be precipitated from solution as formed, and byproduct MX may be retained in solution. Thus, the use of water as the inert solvent may be desirable because of the ease with which the product may be recovered.

If desired, the inert solvent may be an inert organic solvent such as benzene, toluene, xylene, tetrahydrofuran, methanol, hexane, heptane, ligroin, petroleum ether, cyclohexane, etc. When inert organic solvents are employed, by-product MX may typically be precipitated from solution and product R SbOOCR may be recovered by filtering off lay-product, stripping the solvent from the filtrate, preferably under reduced pressure, and distilling or recrystallizing the residue.

The two reactants may preferably be mixed together in stoichiometric quantities according to Reaction (I) supra. If desired, excesses of either reactant may be employed, but more than about 10% excess may not give any substantial additional advantage. The reaction may conveniently be carried out at relatively low temperatures, typically -150 C. and may be substantially complete in about 05-20 hours.

During the reaction and isolation of the product, it may be desirable to maintain an inert atmosphere, typically nitrogen or refluxing inert solvent, to prevent undesirable oxidation reactions. In particular, the dialkylantimony and dialkenylantimony compounds may react readily with oxygen and may, therefore, require an inert atmosphere.

The product R SbOOCR' may be recovered as a liquid, oil or solid, depending upon the particular reactants and conditions chosen. It may be recovered from the reaction in high yields, typically approaching theoretical yields. The reaction may give product of high purity, which may be further purified, if desired by distillation, recrystallization from an organic solvent such as toluene cyclohexane, etc.

Illustrative products which may be prepared in accordance with this invention include:

diphenylantimony acetate diphenylantimony propionate diphenylantimony butyrate ditolylantimony a-methylpropionate dixylylantimony a-methylpropionate di-a-naphthylantimony acetate ditolylantimony butyrate bis (p-chlorophenyl) antimony 'y-chlorobutyrate diphenylantimony B-ethoxypropionate diethylantimony acetate di-n-propylantimony propionate di-n-butylantimony ot-methylpropionate di-n-octylantimony propionate dilaurylantirnony butyrate bis (2-ethylhexyl) antimony a-methylpropionate di-n-hexylantimony acetate diallylantimony acetate di-Z-butenylantimony propionate dibenzylantimony a-methylpropionate dicyclohexylantimony acetate diphenylantimony butyrate diphenylantimony valerate diphenylantimony caproate ditolylantimony a-methylvalerate dixylylantirnony fi-methylvalerate diethylantimony or-ethylcaproate di-n-propylantimony caprylate di-a-naphthylantimony pelargonate di-n-butylantimony caprate di-n-octylantimony laurate dilaurylantimony stearate di-2-ethylhexylantimony oleate di-n-hexylantimony benzoate diallylantimony p-toluate di-2-butenylantimony p-ethylbenzoate dibenzylantimony a-naphthoate dicyclohexylantimony phenylacetate diphenylantimony phenoxyacetate diphenylantimony linoleate ditolylantimony cyclohexanoate diphenylantimony tetrachlorobenzoate ditolylantimony p-vinylbenzoate diphenylantimony tallate ditolylantimony rosinate bis-(p-chlorophenyl) antimony pelargonate diphenylantimony p-chlorobenzoate diphenylantimony methacrylate The products prepared by the process of this invention have a high degree of biological activity and may be used as bactericides, fungicides, etc. For example, diphenylantimony butyrate may control the growth of such organisms as Staphylococcus aureus, Aerobacter aerogenes, Candida albicans, etc., on a wide variety of substrates.

The following examples illustrate practice of this novel invention according to certain of its embodiments.

EXAMPLE ].Diphenylantim0ny acetate SbOOCCH SbCl+NaOOCCH SbOOCCH '+NaCl 233.4 grams (0.75 mole) of diphenylantimony chloride was dissolved in one liter of methanol in a 2-liter beaker and 102 grams (0.75 mole) of sodium acetate trihydrate was added thereto. The resulting slurry was placed on a steam bath and heated for six hours. The slurry was filtered hot to remove precipitated sodium chloride (42.5 grams, 98%). The filtrate was cooled whereupon a first crop of diphenyl-antimony acetate 138 grams, melting point 130132 C.) was obtained and filtered off. A second crop (112 grams) was obtained by evaporation of the solvent from the filtrate. The combined crops represented a yield of 99.5% of theory. The product was recrystallized from toluene and analyzed.

Calcd. for C I-I O Sb: Sb, 36.35%; Acid No. 167.5. Found: Sb, 36.92%; Acid No. 163.

EXAMPLE 2.--Diphenylantimony p-chlorobenzoate SbOOCC H Cl A mixture of 15.6 grams (0.05 mole) of diphenylantimony chloride, 8.9 grams (0.05 mole) of sodium p-chlorobenzoate, and 250 ml. of water was refluxed with stirring for 30 minutes, after which '50 ml. of methanol was added and refluxing continued for an additional four hours. At the end of this time, the resultant slurry was filtered to recover the product, which had precipitated during the reaction. The yield after drying, was 21.5 grams of theory). The product, as further purified by recrystal- EXAMPLE 3.Di-n-ctylantimony Z-ethylhexanoate 8 1'I)2 7 15 A mixture of 38.4 grams (0.1 mole) of di-n-octyl-antimony chloride, 16.1 grams (0.1 mole) of ammonium 2- ethyl-hexanoate and 500 ml. benzene may be heated to reflux and refluxed with stirring for 5 hours. At the end of this time, the ammonium chloride which precipitates during the reaction may be removed by filtration, and product di-n-octylantimony-2-ethylhexanoate may be recovered in high yield from the filtrate by stripping off benzene under reduced pressure.

As may be seen from these illustrative examples, practice of this invention provides a highly convenient technique which permits attainment of high yields of the desired products.

The novel compounds of this invention having the formula R SbOOCR wherein R is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, aryl, and alkenyl; and R is selected from the group consisting of alkyl containing at least three carbon atoms, aryl, and alkenyl, are preferred compounds which may be characterized by their superior and unexpected properties. For example, in comparison to compounds wherein R is e.g. methyl, the preferred compounds may be characterized by higher resistance to hydrolysis, lower tendency to decompose and form objectionable by-products, lower odor and greater ease of handling, much greater oil solubility.

The compounds wherein R is aryl possess superior stability and could not be prepared by any prior art technique. The compounds wherein R is alkenyl are unique in that they may contain a reactive unsaturated linkage which may be advantageously employed e.g., in a polymerization reaction. It is a novel feature of this invention that the compounds wherein R is alkenyl may be prepared without destroying the unsaturated linkage in the alkenyl moiety. The compounds wherein R is alkyl containing at least 3 carbon atoms are especially useful because of their superior compatibility with organic materials such as cutting oils, polyvinyl chloride and other plastics, detergents, etc.

In order to point up the superiority of the novel preferred compounds of this invention having the formula R SbOOCR wherein R is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, aryl, and alkenyl and R is selected from the group consisting of alkyl containing at least 3 carbon atoms, aryl and alkenyl, the following comparative tests were run.

Sulfate-reducer test The objective of this test is to evaluate the potency of a bactericide as a biological control agent in secondary oil recovery.

In accordance with this test, a brine medium and a culture medium are prepared as follows:

Brine medium:

pH adjusted to 7.2 with hydrochloric acid.

6 Culture medium:

Calcium lactate grams 3.5 Yeast extract do 1.0 MgSO '7I-I O .dO NaCl do 10.0 Fe(NH (SO '6H- O do 0.1 FeSO do 0.1 Ascorbic acid do 0.1 Distilled water rnl 1,000

pH adjusted to 8.4 with sodium hydroxide.

Each medium is thoroughly mixed, purged with nitrogen and placed in separate 30 ml. serum bottles at the rate of 29 ml. per bottle of culture medium and 29.4 ml. per bottle of brine medium. The bottles are purged with nitrogen, sealed and autoclaved for 20 minutes at 121 C.

A 3-day old culture of Desulfovib-rio desulfuricans midcontinent Strain A is used as the test organism. The bactericide to be evaluated is dissolved in acetone and added to the brine solution to give solutions of 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and parts per million (p.p.m.). A control, containing no bactericide is also prepared.

Each :brine medium is inoculated with 0.3 ml. of the 3-day old organism culture and, immediately thereafter a 1 m1. sample is removed and added to a bottle of culture medium. A 1 ml. sample from the so-inoculated culture medium is added to a second bottle of culture medium and this process is repeated 3 more times, giving a final dilution of 1:24,300,000.

The brine samples are agitated for one hour at 25 C. and the same sampling and dilution procedure is again followed. Thus, at the conclusion of this portion of the test, there will be a set of bottles of culture medium representing the initial organism count and a second set representing the count after one hour.

The culture medium bottles are incubated at 35 C.- 37 C. until the first control bottle turns black and for an additional 30 days thereafter. Bacterial counts are made on each of the culture media. A bactericide is considered effective at a particular concentration if the medium does not blacken and if the count after incubation is less than the count of the control after 1 hour.

When the diorganoantimony carboxylates were employed in this test, the following results were obtained.

As may .be seen from this test, the novel compounds of this invention may :be 2.5-5 times more active than diphenylantimony acetate against sulfate-reducing bacteria.

Soap germicide test The objective of this test is to determine the compatibility of bactericide with surfactants.

In accordance with this test, culture media are made up as follows.

Neutral soap medium:

Sodium stearate (sold under the trademark Ivory) grams 1 Nutrient broth do 8 Agar do 15 Dlstilled water ml 1000 Anionic synthetic detergent medium:

30% solution of sodium dodecyl'benzene sulfonate (sold under the trademark Santomerse S) grams 0.25 Nutrient broth do 8 Agar do 15 Distilled water ml 1000 Solutions in acetone of the compound to be tested are added to each of the media while molten at 45 C. to give concentrations of 5, 10, 50, 100 and 500 ppm. of compound in the medium. The resultant media are shaken well and poured into sterile Petri dishes.

The media are then inoculated with Escherichia coli, a gram-negative bacterium, and incubated for 3 days at 37 C. The incubated dishes are examined visually for bacterial growth and the lowest concentration of bactericide (in ppm.) which completely inhibits visual growth is recorded as the effective level.

When the diorganoantimony carboxylate compounds were employed in this test, the following results were obtained.

Neutral soap medium Compound: Effective level (p.p.m.) Diphenylantimony acetate 5O Diphenylantimony butyrate 5 Diphenylantimony Z-ethylhexanoate 5 Diphenylantimony p-chlorobenzoate 5 Anionic synthetic detergent medium Compound: Effective level (p.p.m.) Diphenylantimony acetate 50 Diphenylantimony butyrate 5 Diphenylantimony 2-ethylhexanoate 5 Diphenylantimony p-chlorobenzoate 5 As may be seen from the test, the preferred novel compounds of this invention may be as much as times as effective as diphenylantimony acetate in combination with detergents.

This application is a continuation-in-part of our copending US. patent application entitled Process and Product, Ser. No. 241,023, filed Nov. 29, 1962.

Although this invention has been illustrated by reference to specific examples, numerous changes and modifications thereof which clearly fall within the scope of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. The process for preparing a diorganoantimony compound of the formula R SbOOCR wherein R is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, aryl, and alkenyl, and R is hydrocarbon, which comprises mixing together as reactants R SbX wherein X is halogen having an atomic weight greater than 19; and M(OOCR),, wherein M is a cation selected from the group consisting of ammonium, alkali metals and alkaline earth metals, and a is the valence of M; in the presence of an inert solvent for at least one of said reactants, thereby forming product and recovering said product.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein R is aryl.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein R is phenyl.

4. The process of claim 1 wherein R is selected from the group consisting of alkyl containing at least 3 carbon atoms, aryl, and alkenyl.

5. The process of claim 1 wherein X is chlorine.

6. The process of claim 1 wherein said inert solvent has a boiling point of 60150 C.

7. The process of claim 1 wherein said inert solvent is water.

8. The process for preparing a diorganoantimony compound of the formula RzSbOOCR' wherein R is aryl and R is hydrocarbon which comprises mixing together as reactants R SbCl and M(OOCR') wherein M is a cation selected from the group consisting of ammonium, alkali metals and alkaline earth metals, and a is the valence of M; in the presence of an inert solvent for at least one of said reactants which solvent has a boiling point of 60-150" C., thereby forming a reaction mixture; maintaining said reaction mixture at a temperature of 20l50 C., thereby forming product R SbOOCR; and recovering said product.

9. The process of claim 8 wherein said reactants are mixed together in a ratio of a moles of R SbCl per mole of M(OOCR),,.

10. The process of claim 8 wherein R is phenyl.

11. The process of claim 8 wherein R is selected from the group consisting of alkyl containing at least 3 carbon atoms, aryl, and alkenyl,

12. The process of claim 8 wherein M is sodium.

13. The process of claim 8 wherein M is potassium.

14. The process of claim 8 wherein M is ammonium.

15. The process of claim 8 wherein said inert solvent is water.

16. A novel compound of the formula R SbOOCR wherein R is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, aryl, and alkenyl; and R is selected from the group consisting of alkyl containing at least three carbon atoms, and aryl.

17. A novel compound as claimed in claim 16 wherein R is aryl and R is alkyl containing at least three carbon atoms.

18. A novel compound as claimed in claim 16 wherein R is aryl and R is aryl.

. Diphenylantimony butyrate.

. Diphenylantimony valerate.

. Diphenylantimony caproate.

. Diphenylantimony linoleate.

. Diphenylantimony tallate.

. Diphenylantimony p-chlorobenzoate. Diphenylantimony-Z-ethylhexanoate.

References Cited TOBIAS E. LEVOW, Primary Examiner.

W. F. W. BELLAMY, Assistant Examiner. 

